It’s hard for me to say what skating actually means. Without it, I wouldn’t be who I am. Yes, I know that statement is incredibly corny, but it’s also very true: I've become part of this sport and it has become a part of me. All of us are because we made the conscious choice to do this and remain a part of it. Even if it means skipping family vacations, not getting a car for our 16th birthday, missing school and countless classes, and not getting invitations to various events since you can’t go anyway, we continue doing it. We continue to lace up our skates and go into the cold rink before any of our “normal” friends are awake.
I’ve wanted to quit skating more times than I can count. I didn’t think I could do it anymore. The pressure was too much and the joy was gone. But every time that I’ve wanted to quit, something has stopped me. Most of the time, it’s realizing that I won’t have anything to do. However, recently I’ve realized the joy comes from within. It’s not about setting outrageous goals; it’s about enjoying the process and appreciating the small accomplishments.
To me, skating means much more than just tying up my skates and going around the ice, winning a medal, or passing a test. It means dedication, it means passion, and it means drive. Skating is by no means easy. But at the same time, it’s not difficult, because I love what I do. I love feeling the cold wind hit my face, I love the sound that my edges make on freshly cut ice, and I love the feeling as I step onto the ice to practice or compete. But most of all I love my team and the people that are part of my skating journey. From 5am practice before competition, to 7am flights, to 10:30 post-competition pictures, and everything in between, we’re there for each other. Through late nights and early mornings, through deep conversations and short arguments, we’re a family and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The number of teammates and rink friends I’ve had past, present, and future, the team managers, team moms, coaches, and parents I see all the time have become part of who I am. There’s nothing more gratifying than having a coach compliment you on how far you’ve come, and fewer things that are better than hugging a coach who’s become a mother figure after months of being apart. I’m part of something bigger than myself, a world where determination, drive, passion, empathy, and teamwork are at the forefront.
But at the end of the day, I try not to describe myself solely as a “skater.” I attempt to describe myself through what skating has given me instead. It’s given me belonging, a sense of purpose, amazing time-management skills, role models, little sisters, moms and dads, older sisters, countless new friends, and above all, a family.